The Biogas Energy Station near Qingdao has benefited more than 500 local families. This is China's first facility of this nature to provide energy for a whole village. Zhang Ni takes a closer look.

Chen Xiuyun has been using gas provided by the Biogas Energy Station in her county for a year. Instead of managing her own biomass pool in the old days, the usage is now easier, cleaner, and cheaper.

Chen Xiuyun, Yifengdian County Resident, said, "It's now cheaper, by one-third, than using natural gas. Since I know the gas comes from our domestic trash, we don't need to worry about how to deal with them anymore."

She shows us their new system to sort domestic trash. Smashed leaves and leftover food go to the organic trash bin, while the rest go to the inert trash bin.

The trash collector comes daily to bring the refuse to the biogas energy station at the other end of the village.

Here, the trash will be shattered, and go to this newly developed fermenter gas container. The gas goes to every family from here through underground pipes.

The chief engineer for this project says it is the best way to use energy in the countryside.

Yang Heibo, Engineer of Jimo Energy Agriculture Bureau, said, "The main component of biogas is methane. After it burns, it becomes mostly water, which does no harm to the environment. Plus, our county grows vegetables, so the biogas waste can become organic fertilizer."

Due to high cost of biogas liquification, the current capacity of this energy station can only satisfy the 500 local families.

But another biogas container is under construction, and will be put into service next May. By then, 1500 other families from nearby villages will benefit.

Xia Geng, Qingdao Mayor, said, "I believe that new energy will not only change the process of economic development, but also change our way of living. It's meaningful for building a livable city."

Zhang Ni, CCTV Reporter, "According to the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, a special fund has been set up for developing biogas energy stations around the country. And it is hoping to benefit more than 40 million rural families by the end of 2011, which is a big part of the National Plan for the next five years. Zhang Ni, CCTV, Qingdao, Shandong Province."

(CNTV.cn November 29, 2010)